Revolving target having horizontally aligned hoops

ABSTRACT

A revolving target is disclosed which may be used for training or amusement purposes and is provided with a pair of hoops mounted on a rotating member. The hoops are spaced apart and driven at various speeds to develop or test the skill of a user by requiring not only accuracy of projection, but also requiring precise timing so that a projectile will pass through both hoops.

United States Patent [151' 3,703,289

Hohman 1 Nov. 21, 1972 [541 REVOLVING TARGET HAVING 3,391,936 7/1968 HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED HOOPS Terrel L. Hohman, 235 North Pleasant St., Prescott, Ariz. 8630] Filed: July 6, 1971 Appl. No.2 159,844

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1940 Hendrich ..273/l05.2

Grimes ..273/l05.2

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Herbert E. Haynes, Jr.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A revolving target is disclosed which may be used for training or amusement purposes and is provided with a pair of hoops mounted on a rotating member. The hoops are spaced apart and driven at various speeds to develop or test the skill of a user by requiring not only accuracy of projection, but also requiring precise timing so that a projectile will pass through both hoops.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDauvm 1912 3.703.289

I NV E NTO R 722254 A. I /UHMAA/ AGENT REVOLVING TARGET HAVING HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED HOOPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to targets and more particularly to a revolving target.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many moving target devices have been devised for developing particular skills and for amusement purposes. These devices generally comprise a drive mechanism attached to a target for producing reciprocal, oscillatory, or other desired types of motion. These motions are employed to simulate various conditions which may be used to train shooters, develop athletic skills, and the like.

Moving targets are employed to develop the skill of throwing or otherwise propelling a projectile at a target and to develop a sense of timing.

Although moving targets may be employed for a variety of training or amusement purposes, devices of this nature are particularly adapted to develop the passing skill of a football player.

One particular prior art moving target mechanism devised for developing football passing skills, comprises a vertical standard having a swinging mast mounted thereon. The mast is pivotably mounted intermediate its ends to the standard and is provided with a single hoop on one end and a cam-track driving device on its other end. The mast is designed to oscillate in a to-and-fro motion so that the cam-track device will be drivingly engaged by a continuously operating roller mechanism during a portion of its oscillating cycle. This prior art device propels the hoop mechanism through an arcuate path at a predetermined speed. This device is substantially a single speed mechanism that makes no provision to compensate for the skill of the user.

Another prior art moving target mechanism for developing the passing skills of a football player comprises a simulated player having a hole formed through the central body portion thereof. The simulated player is a motor driven device which propels the target along a track. This device is an expensive semipermanent installation and requires extensive set-up time and a large playing area.

In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a new and useful moving target mechanism which is adapted to operate in accordance with the skill of the user, is inexpensive, portable, and requires a minimum amount of playing area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The target device of the present invention is adapted to be adjusted for users having various degrees of skill. To adjust the revolving target mechanism, the drive means is adapted to provide various rotational speeds and the target carrying arm may be a telescoping member to provide a various space relationship between the target members.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful moving target mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful target mechanism which is inexpensive to fabricate and simple to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful moving targetmechanism which is adapted to test or develop the skills of a user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful moving target mechanism which may be adjusted to operate in accordance with the skills of the user.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the revolving target mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, and is partially broken away to illustrate the various features of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 and shows the adjustable drive means of the present invention. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the revolving target device of the present invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. As seen best in FIG. 1 the revolving target mechanism 10 is provided with a stand 12 which is shown as a fold ing structure.

It should be noted that any suitable stand or support structure may be substituted for the stand 12 and its configuration may be determined by the particular environment in which the target device is to be employed.

The stand 12 is connected to an elongated tubular member 14 or torque tube, the function of which will hereinafter be described in detail. The stand 12 is provided with a plurality of downwardly diverging legs 16 having their upper ends pivotably connected to a fixed collar 18. A movable collar 20 is adapted for sliding movement along the length of the elongated tubular member 14. The movable collar 20 is providedwith a plurality of radially extending arms 22, there being one arm 22 for each of the legs 16. The arms 22 are pivotably connected at their inner ends to the movable collar 20 and are pivotably connected at their outer ends to a fixed collar 23 provided on each of the legs 16.

To fold the stand mechanism 12, the movable collar 20 is moved towards the fixed collar 18, thus pulling the legs toward the elongated tubular member 14. To

erect the stand 12 the moving collar 20 is moved away from the fixed collar 18 and is allowed to travel to an overcenter position where further movement is halted by an annular stop 24 affixed to the elongated tubular member 14.

A drive shaft 26 is rotatably journaled in a pair of bearings 28 which are carried in the ends of the elongated tubular member 14. The drive shaft 26 is provided with an upwardly extending end 30 and a downwardly extending end 32.

A drive means 34 is mounted adjacent to the lower end 32 of the drive shaft 26 to provide rotary motion thereto. The drive means 34 comprises a disk 36 or driven member, suitably attached to the lower end 32 of the drive shaft. The disk 36 may be provided with a suitable facing material 38 to allow friction drive thereof as will be hereinafter described in detail. A

bracket 40, or motor mounting means, is affixed to the lower end of the elongated tubular member 14. The bracket 40 is provided with two diametrically opposed radially extending arms 42 which are formed along their length to provide a pair of downwardly extending portions 44 which are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 26. One of the downwardly extending portions 44 is formed with an inwardly facing lip 46 and the other downwardly depending portion 44 has an arcuate member 48 suitably attached thereto. The arcuate member 48 has a slot 50 formed therein which is disposed in substantially the same plane as the lip'46. An elongated adjustment plate 52 is pivotably connected on one end 53 thereof to the lip 46 and its other end 54 is slidably positionable within the slot 50 of the arcuate member 48. The end 54 of the plate 52 is formed in a U-shape to provide a folded-back portion 55 which engages the underneath portion of the arcuate member 48. A thumb screw 56 or locking means is provided on the folded back portion 55 to secure the adjustment plate 52 in the desired position.

A suitable low speed motor 58 is attached to the adjustment plate 52 in an appropriate manner. The motor may be connected to a battery (not shown) or any other appropriate power source.

The motor 58 is provided with the usual output shaft 62 to which a wheel 64 or coupling means is attached. The wheel 64 is positioned to frictionaliy. engage and thus drivingly rotate the disk 36. With the motor mounted on the adjusting plate 52 as described and shown, the point of contact between thedisk and the wheel may be radially changed to vary the speed of the disk and thus the drive shaft.

It should be noted that the method of changing the speed of the drive shaft may take other forms such as a rheostat (not shown) connected to the motor for varying the current thereto and thus altering the RPM of the motor.

An arm 66 is demountably attached intermediate its ends to the upper end 30 of the drive shaft 26 and is positioned transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. The arm 66 is adapted to carry a hoop 67 or other suitable target member on each of its free ends. The type of target member may be determined by the projectile used and the manner in which the revolving target device of the present invention is employed.

The arm 66 comprises a sleeve 68 which is adapted to slidably engage the upper end of the drive shaft 26. The sleeve 68 has a thumb screw 70 for securing the sleeve to the drive shaft 26 and cause the arm 66 to revolve therewith A pair of diametrically opposed radially extending telescoping members 72 are attached to the sleeve 68 by such methods as welding or the like. The telescoping members 72 include extensible ends 76 to which the hoops 67 are demountably attached. The telescoping members 72 allow adjustments to be made in the spacing between the hoops 67 to vary the degree of accuracy required to throw or otherwise project a missile through both of the target members.

As seen in FIG. 2, the hoops 67 are demountably at tached to the extensible ends 76' to provide interchangeability as well as to facilitate storage and shipping of the revolving target device 10. The hoops 67 are mounted to the free ends of the arm 66 in such a manner that they are disposed in substantially parallel planes with respect to each other to provide alignment between the hoops. The planes of the hoops are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the arm 66. Each of the hoops 67 is provided with a radially extending resilient mounting member 78 which is vulcanized or otherwise attached to the periphery thereof. The resilient mounting members 78 of each of the hoops 67 is provided with a mounting vpin 80 for demountably attaching the hoops 67 to the extensible ends 76. Resilient mounting of the hoops 67 in the hereinbefore described manner will absorb some of the shock of a missile striking the hoop 67. In the even that a misdirected missile strikes the hoops 67 or the revolving arm 66 so that the rotary motion of the arm and target is interrupted, the drive means 34 will allow slippage between the disk 36 and the wheel 64 to prevent damage to the operating mechanism.

It should be noted that other types of drive means such as a pulley-belt arrangement (not shown) may also be employed to drive the target mechanism. It may further be seen that it is not necessary to mount the tubular member 14 in a vertical position as it would operate equally as well if mounted horizontally or at various angles.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrated embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials and components, used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles. By way of example the target members may be provided with sensing devices which would produce audio or other types of signals when the projectile passes through one or both of the revolving targets. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover and embrace any such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A revolving target device comprising:

a. a stand;

b. an elongated tubular member affixed to said stand;

0. a drive shaft rotatably journaled in said tubular member;

d. drive means positioned adjacent to one end of said drive shaft and adapted to impart rotary motion thereto;

e. an arm attached intermediate its end on the other end of said drive shaft and positioned transverse thereto, said arm adapted to rotate with said drive shaft; and

f. a target member mounted on each end of said arm, each target member having an opening formed therethrough, said target member positioned on said arm so that the openings formed in said target members are substantially aligned.

2. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises:

a. a driven member on said drive shaft;

b. a motor;

0. coupling means between said motor and said driven member for driving the latter, said coupling means adapted to allow slippage between said driven member and said motor when aprojectile strikes said revolving target device causing interruption of the rotary motion thereof.

3. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises:

a. a disc attached to said drive shaft;

b. a motor;

c. a driving member attached to the output shaft of said motor and positioned to drivingly engage said disc, said driving member and said disc adapted to allow slippage therebetween when a projectile strikes said revolving target and interrupts the rotary motion thereof; and

d. mounting means on said tubular member upon which said motor is mounted, said mounting means adapted to adjustably position said motor and said driving member for radially positioning the latter with respect to said disc to adjust the rotational speed of said revolving target device.

4. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said driving member comprises a wheel.

5. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting means comprises:

a a bracket attached to said tubular member and having diametrically opposed radially extending arms, each of said arms formed along the length thereof to provide extended portions which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, one of the extended portions having a lip formed on the free end thereof, the other extended portion having an arcuate member on its free end;

b an elongated plate pivotably mounted on one end thereof to the lip with its other end slidably engaging the arcuate member, said plate having said motor mounted thereon; and

0 locking means cooperating between said plate and the arcuate member for releasably holding said plate in a desired position.

6. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm is provided with extensible ends for adjusting the spacing between said target members mounted thereon.

7. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said targets each comprise a hoop.

8. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said targets is resiliently mounted on said arm.

9. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said target members are hoops demountably resiliently mounted on the free ends of said arm, said hoops disposed in substantially parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said arm. 

1. A revolving target device comprising: a. a stand; b. an elongated tubular member affixed to said stand; c. a drive shaft rotatably journaled in said tubular member; d. drive means positioned adjacent to one end of said drive shaft and adapted to impart rotary motion thereto; e. an arm attached intermediate its end on the other end of said drive shaft and positioned transverse thereto, said arm adapted to rotate with said drive shaft; and f. a target member mounted on each end of said arm, each target member having an opening formed therethrough, said target member positioned on said arm so that the openings formed in said target members are substantially aligned.
 1. A revolving target device comprising: a. a stand; b. an elongated tubular member affixed to said stand; c. a drive shaft rotatably journaled in said tubular member; d. drive means positioned adjacent to one end of said drive shaft and adapted to impart rotary motion thereto; e. an arm attached intermediate its end on the other end of said drive shaft and positioned transverse thereto, said arm adapted to rotate with said drive shaft; and f. a target member mounted on each end of said arm, each target member having an opening formed therethrough, said target member positioned on said arm so that the openings formed in said target members are substantially aligned.
 2. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a driven member on said drive shaft; b. a motor; c. coupling means between said motor and said driven member for driving the latter, said coupling means adapted to allow slippage between said driven member and said motor when a projectile strikes said revolving target device causing interruption of the rotary motion thereof.
 3. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a disc attached to said drive shaft; b. a motor; c. a driving member attached to the output shaft of said motor and positioned to drivingly engage said disc, said driving member and said disc adapted to allow slippage therebetween when a projectile strikes said revolving target and interrupts the rotary motion thereof; and d. mounting means on said tubular member upon which said motor is mounted, said mounting means adapted to adjustably position said motor and said driving member for radially positioning the latter with respect to said disc to adjust the rotational speed of said revolving target device.
 4. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said driving member comprises a wheel.
 5. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said mounting means comprises: a a bracket attached to said tubular member and having diametrically opposed radially extending arms, each of said arms formed along the length thereof to provide extended portions which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft, one of the extended portions having a lip formed on the free end thereof, the other extended portion having an arcuate member on its free end; b an elongated plate pivotably mounted on one end thereof to the lip with its other end slidably engaging the arcuate member, said plate having said motor mounted thereon; and c locking means cooperating between said plate and the arcuate member for releasably holding said plate in a desired position.
 6. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm is provided with extensible ends for adjusting the spacing between said target members mounted thereon.
 7. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said targets each comprise a hoop.
 8. A revolving target device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said targets is resiliently mounted on said arm. 